A simple idea to put a smile on the faces of forces veterans at Christmas has taken off in Chester.

Operation Christmas Cards was launched less than a week ago, but a Facebook group has already picked up more than 11,000 members.

Lee Worthing, 41, from Chester, is behind the festive cheer and cards are sent to him before he passes them on.

Now more than 50 envelopes are dropping through his letterbox in the morning.

Lee said: “I didn’t expect a response this big at all, it’s been amazing and the group keeps growing.

“I was just thinking what could I do to make a difference and I think it’s a simple idea to bring a smile to someone’s face.

“To get 100 or 200 cards would’ve been good, but 500 people joined the group in the first night.”

Lee Worthing, 41, from Chester is organising Operation Christmas Cards to bring a smile to the face of injured veterans

At the last check the Operation Christmas Cards page had racked up 11,094 likes.

Charity Help for Heroes have now got involved in the scheme and the Royal British Legion are also promoting the cause.

Initially Lee’s idea was to send the cards on to the rehabilitation centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

But the size of the response has meant the 41-year-old has had to think bigger, with four other centres lined up if the number keeps increasing.

A card sent in for Operation Christmas Cards

Lee said his personal experience in the forces had shown him how much a card could mean.

He said: “When I was in the army, at Christmas time you would see how much it meant to some when a card came through.

“There’s lots of soldiers who don’t have anybody or injured veterans who are in rehab who would love to receive a card.

“I can just remember the smiles, even if it’s from someone they don’t even know.”

Lee Worthing, 41, from Chester is organising Operation Christmas Cards to bring a smile to the face of injured veterans

Despite the fantastic response to his idea, there is one other person who has had to deal with a lot more work recently, Lee’s postman.

Lee said: “I was hoping to bump into them at some point, but I’ve not had the pleasure so far.

“Obviously they’ve seen a huge increase in the amount of post I’ve been getting and I hope there’s more to come.

“I don’t know what they think has been happening the last few days.”

For more information about Operation Christmas Cards and how to get involved visit the Facebook page.